England discard Jonny Bairstow hit his first Championship century of the season as Yorkshire seized control against Sussex at Arundel.

Bairstow (161 not out) set a new record sixth-wicket stand against Sussex of 138 with Tim Bresnan (68), who was bowled by the tireless Steve Magoffin.

Earlier, Jack Leaning fell one run short of a maiden hundred when he hit a return catch to spinner James Tredwell.

The Tykes declared on 470-7, 154 ahead, with Sussex 21-0 at the close.

Bairstow & Bresnan record breakers

Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan's sixth-wicket partnership was a county record against Sussex.

The previous best was 116, jointly held by Wilfred Rhodes and Emmott Robinson at Headingley in 1929, and Robert Peel and Robert Frank at Hove in 1892.

Beginning the penultimate day 92 runs behind on the first innings, Bairstow and Leaning patiently took their fourth-wicket partnership to 125 on a moribund surface, before Leaning was snaffled by debutant Tredwell (3-158) agonisingly short of the first ton of his career.

Australia international Aaron Finch was then trapped lbw cheaply by the impressively probing Magoffin, who returned figures of 4-81 from 42 overs.

But Bresnan joined Bairstow as Yorkshire piled on the frustration for Sussex, whose bowlers toiled away for 173 overs before the declaration.

Bairstow's innings spanned 290 balls and nearly seven hours, and followed six catches taken behind the stumps in Sussex's first innings as he sent a timely reminder to the England selectors after being dropped from the England side following the disastrous Ashes tour last winter.

Sussex survived a tricky 10-over spell unscathed before the close and will hope they can bat out the final day to escape defeat.

BBC Sussex's Adrian Harms:

"After three days of tough Championship cricket, the slow Arundel pitch looks likely to be the only winner, with a draw the most likely result.

"That being said, Sussex could easily have lost a wicket in a tense last 10 overs of the day and the hosts will still need to bat with application and determination to secure the draw.

"Jonny Bairstow showed the necessary application and concentration during his innings, as did Jack Leaning who deserved a maiden first-class hundred.

"Credit also the Sussex bowling and fielding, which never flagged after nearly two days in the field."